The police yesterday denied reports that controversial policeman Superintendent Errol Watts was “ordered out” or “pulled out” of Linden.
In a press release yesterday, the Guyana Police Force said that it was seeking to clarify publications/announcements being made through the media on Watts, adding that he travelled out of the community to escort a prisoner to the city.
Residents had expressed discomfort with Watts and Senior Police Superintendent Linden Alves being on the ground in Linden, in light of the allegations over their involvement in last December’s shooting of protestors with rubber bullets in the city. This incident sparked public outcry and an investigation. The two senior policemen were each charged with five counts of unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell, asked about the concerns over the men’s presence in Linden, told Stabroek News that the officers have their duties to perform and he saw nothing wrong with them being on the ground in Linden.
“Superintendent Errol Watts is one of the Police Officers temporarily attached to ‘E&F’ Division and is performing duties in the maintenance of law and order in the entire Linden community. He is not assigned to any particular part of Linden as is being touted in the media,” the force, meanwhile, said yesterday.
In the release, it noted that during the Joint Services operations on Sunday, Watts arrested a man at Wismar, Linden, on whose premises a number of cannabis sativa plants (marijuana) was found under cultivation.
“In order to maintain the nexus in this matter, the officer travelled out of Linden to escort the exhibit and subsequent presentation at court.
The suspect is expected to be placed before the court shortly,” the release said, while adding that Watts is making preparations to leave the country by weekend to participate in an overseas training programme.
